Corona, Tijuana climb atop Mexican top flight, more Americans Abroad

It was Corona who scored in the club's promotion-battle win over Irapuato in May 2011, as the then-relative unknown attacker helped lead his relatively unknown club to the Mexican top flight. Upon arrival, the U.S. national team midfielder scored Tijuana's first goal as a top-tier side and turned in a productive year that helped Los Xolos remain in the first division. It's no surprise, then, that with Tijuana remarkably climbing the league mountain in little time that Corona was a vital participant as Los Xolos were crowned Mexican champions.

Corona, in addition to U.S. internationals Edgar Castillo and Greg Garza, raised the Mexican Apertura championship trophy and helped bring an unlikely title to Estadio Caliente in Tijuana after the club's triumph over Toluca in this past week's two-legged Liga MX final. Corona, who assisted on a goal in Thursday's 2-1, first-leg triumph, now has a winner's medal to take with him to Tijuana's next momentous occasions: appearances in the Copa Libertadores and CONCACAF Champions League in a World Cup qualifying-heavy 2013 that is shaping up to be the year of Corona's life.

What his club has been able to do, both in the scope of Mexican soccer and in terms of Americans abroad, is pretty mind-boggling. In just 18 months, Club Tijuana went from Liga de Ascenso afterthought to Liga MX champion and is becoming the breeding ground for a whole host of U.S. eligible prospects. U.S youth internationals Alejandro Guido, Esteban Rodriguez and Bryan de la Fuente are all part of the Tijuana setup in addition to the three first-team stalwarts, and with the club situated about five miles from the Southern California-Mexico border, it becomes even more of an enticing option for the hotbed of rising talent in that region now that Los Xolos can rightfully be called Los Campeones.

While the Tijuana Trio were basking in the sweetness of a championship, Clint Dempsey was basking in the sweetness of revenge, as Tottenham topped both Liverpool and Fulham over the past week. Dempsey made good on his return to Craven Cottage for the first time as an opponent, assisting on the final goal in Tottenham's romp over his former side, capping off a week in which Spurs also thwarted the Reds, the team that spurned a transfer move for Dempsey over the summer.

In Eastern Europe, it was a good week to be a rising U.S. forward prospect, as Andrew Wooten bagged two goals for Sandhausen and Bobby Wood continued his comeback from a knee injury with his first goal for TSV 1860 Munich, with both beginning to see regular minutes in Germany's second division. Terrence Boyd continued his standout first season as a first-team professional with his 12th goal of the campaign for Austria's Rapid Vienna.

Veteran center back Zak Whitbread also got on the scoreboard at Leicester City, helping cap a rather prolific week for Americans playing abroad. Here is how the contingent fared (season statistics encompass all competitions):

Premier League

Geoff Cameron, D/M, Stoke City -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Stoke City's 2-1 win over Newcastle on Wednesday. Cameron also started and played 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over West Brom on Saturday.SEASON: 15 games, 14 starts

Cody Cropper, GK, Southampton -- Not in the 18 for Southampton's 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Wednesday or for a 1-0 loss to Liverpool on Saturday.SEASON: 0 games

Clint Dempsey, M/F, Tottenham -- Started, played 64 minutes in Tottenham's 2-1 win over Liverpool on Wednesday. Dempsey also started, played 90 minutes and assisted on the final goal in a 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday.SEASON: 19 games, 16 starts, 2 goals

Maurice Edu, D/M, Stoke City -- Not in the 18 for Stoke City's 2-1 win over Newcastle. Edu was in the 18, but did not play in a 1-0 win over West Brom.SEASON: 1 game

Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham -- In the 18, did not play in Tottenham's 2-1 win over Liverpool and in Tottenham's 3-0 win over Fulham.SEASON: 10 games, 10 starts, 16 goals allowed

Tim Howard, GK, Everton -- Started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Everton's 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Wednesday. Howard also started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Saturday.SEASON: 15 games, 15 starts, 18 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa -- In the 18, came on as a 24th-minute substitute in Villa's 1-0 win over Reading. Lichaj started and played 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers.SEASON: 13 games, 6 starts

League Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County -- Not in the 18 for Derby County's 1-1 draw with Cardiff City on Tuesday or a 4-1 loss to Leicester City on Saturday.SEASON: 2 games, 1 start

Robbie Findley, F, Nottingham Forest -- In the 18, did not play in Nottingham Forest's 2-1 loss to Hull City on Saturday. Findley rejoined Forest after his loan to League Two side Gillingham expired. Findlay played in seven games with Gillingham but did not score.SEASON: 7 games, 3 starts (all with Gillingham)

Stuart Holden, M, Bolton -- Not in the 18 for Bolton's 2-1 win over Blackburn on Wednesday or a 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town on Saturday.SEASON: 0 games

Will Packwood, D/M, Birmingham City -- Not in the 18 for Birmingham's 1-1 draw with Blackpool on Tuesday or a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough on Friday.SEASON: 4 games, 4 starts

Tim Ream, D, Bolton -- In the 18, did not play in Bolton's 2-1 win over Blackburn and a 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town.SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts

Zak Whitbread, D, Leicester City -- Started, played 90 minutes in Leicester City's 1-0 loss to Leeds United on Tuesday. Whitbread started, played 90 minutes and scored the opening goal of a 4-1 win over Derby County on Saturday, heading home an early corner kick for his first goal since joining the club.SEASON: 11 games, 10 starts, 1 goal

League One

Mike Grella, F, Scunthorpe United -- Scunthorpe did not have a game this past week.SEASON: 14 games, 9 starts, 2 goals

Robbie Rogers, M, Stevenage -- Stevenage did not have a game this past week.SEASON: 8 games, 3 starts

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United -- Started, played the first half of Carlisle's 3-1 loss to AFC Bournemouth in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday.SEASON: 21 games, 19 starts

Joe Gyau, M, St. Pauli -- In the 18, came on as a 59th-minute substitute in St. Pauli's 1-0 loss to Eintracht Braunschweig on Wednesday. Gyau was in the 18, but did not play in a 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern on Saturday.SEASON: 7 games, 2 starts

Alfredo Morales, D, Hertha Berlin -- Not in the 18 for Berlin's 1-1 draw with FC Cologne or a 2-1 win over Energie Cottbus..SEASON: 1 game

Bobby Wood, F, TSV 1860 Munich -- Started, played 90 minutes in Munich's 1-0 win over SC Paderborn 07 on Tuesday. Wood started, played 90 minutes and scored an equalizing goal in Munich's 1-1 draw with Aalen on Friday. Wood laced a dipping blast from just outside the box in the 81st minute to salvage the point for his club.SEASON: 3 games, 2 starts, 1 goal

Andrew Wooten, F, SV Sandhausen -- Started, was subbed off in second-half stoppage time and scored two goals in Sandhausen's 3-1 win over Energie Cottbus on Wednesday. Wooten tallied from the penalty spot in the 59th minute before putting home the rebound of his own saved penalty eight minutes later to guide his side to the win. Wooten was in the 18, came on as an 85th-minute substitute and picked up a yellow card in a 2-2 draw with Erzgebirge Aue on Saturday.SEASON: 12 games, 5 starts, 3 goals

Oguchi Onyewu, D, Malaga -- Started, played 90 minutes in Malaga's 1-0 loss to Cacereno in the second leg of their Copa del Rey Round of 32 tie on Tuesday. Malaga advanced to the next round via away goals after the two played to a 4-4 aggregate draw. Onyewu was not in the 18 for a 1-0 loss to Getafe in league play Saturday.SEASON: 5 games, 4 starts, 1 goal

Segunda Division

Carlos Bocanegra, D, Racing Santander -- Not in the 18 for Racing Santander's 4-3 loss to Almeria on Sunday. Bocanegra is still recovering from a hamstring tear suffered while on international duty last month.SEASON: 14 games, 14 starts (7 games, 7 starts with Rangers)

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht -- Started, played 120 minutes in Anderlecht's 2-0 extra-time win over Mechelen in the Belgian Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday. Kljestan also started and played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Cercle Brugge in league play Saturday.SEASON: 24 games, 17 starts, 2 goals

Tony Taylor, F, Estoril Praia - Estoril did not have a game this past week.SEASON: 6 games, 3 starts

Bundesliga

Terrence Boyd, F, Rapid Vienna -- Started, played 90 minutes and had a goal and two assists in Rapid Vienna's 4-3 win over Ried on Saturday. Boyd snapped down a header from close range off a corner kick to get his goal in the 25th minute before turning provider with a short leaping header that put teammate Deni Alar through on goal 45th minute and a decisive pass off the outside of his right foot that put Alar in position for a spectacular volley in the 80th minute.SEASON: 25 games, 21 starts, 12 goals

Liga MX

Edgar Castillo, D, Tijuana -- Started, played 90 minutes in Tijuana's 2-1 win over Toluca in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final Thursday. Castillo also started and played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over Toluca in the second leg on Sunday, which cemented Los Xolos' climb to the Mexican championship just 18 months after being promoted to the top flight.SEASON: 20 games, 20 starts

Joe Corona, M, Tijuana -- Started, played 73 minutes and assisted on a goal in Tijuana's 2-1 win over Toluca in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final. Corona started and played 67 minutes in a 2-0 win over Toluca in the second leg.SEASON: 20 games, 14 starts

Greg Garza, D, Tijuana -- Not in the 18 for Tijuana's 2-1 win over Toluca in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final and in a 2-0 win over Toluca in the second leg.SEASON: 15 games, 10 starts, 1 goal

Superliga

Charlie Davies, F, Randers -- Not in the 18 for Randers' 2-1 win over FC Midtjylland in the quarterfinals of the DBU Pokalen (Danish Cup) on Thursday or for 18 for a 2-0 loss to FC Copenhagen in league play Sunday. Davies was serving his suspension for being red carded in his previous match.SEASON: 15 games, 3 starts

Clarence Goodson, D, Brondby -- Not in the 18 for Brondby's 1-0, extra-time win over FC Copenhagen in the quarterfinals of the DBU Pokalen on Wednesday or a 3-0 loss to FC Nordsjaelland in league play Sunday.SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts, 1 goal

Mix Diskerud, M, Rosenborg -- Rosenborg did not have a match this past week. The club has already been eliminated from the UEFA Europa League and finishes the group stage Thursday against Bayer Leverkusen.SEASON: 17 games, 15 starts, 2 goals

Josh Gatt, M, Molde -- Molde did not have a match this past week. The club has already been eliminated from the Europa League and finishes the group stage Thursday against Stuttgart.SEASON: 28 games, 22 starts, 6 goals

Allsvenskan

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Helsingborg -- Helsingborg did not have a match this past week. The club has already been eliminated from the Europa League and finishes the group stage Thursday against FC Twente.SEASON: 16 games, 15 starts, 2 goals